The National tribune., 1887-05-12

% rs; "a: Is; Deu.. 1871; NJ, Oily The
infection occurred at midnight. (Vs. p, %, 30,
81. Compare Ps., 81 s. g. Nisan was the name
given to the month Abb after the Babylonish
captivity. 1t was made the first month of the
eccesiastic year. Ever since IL has been kind
Of Fourth Of JUL" to the Israelites, as mark
ing the time when they escaped from bondage
to Pharaoh. Its second celebration took place
one year from its origin, when the Israelites
were pausing at Mount Sinai. Then it was
omitted for 80 years, or until the Israelites
crossed the Jordan. It is yet observed in its
spirit but not in its letter, by the Hebrews all
over the world.
All Egypt suffered from the plague Goshen,
being the locality occupied by the Hebrews,
would escape more than any other part. 1t is
likely, however, some Egyptians resided in
Goshen. Then, it may be some Hebrews lacked
faith and omitted to mark their houses, thus
bringing death on their first-born. From 9:2;
o: %. we find Goshen treated as an exceptional
locality and as though occupied wholly by
lsraelites. But it is probable many Hebrews
lived outside of Goshen. The necessity of fix
ing a sign of blood on certain houses, to guide
the Angel of Death, shows the homes of Israel
ties and Egyptians were not separate. So, too,
the idea of the word Passover, believed by
scholars to refer to the fact the Angel entered
some houses and passed over others, implies
the houses were all in the same locality. The
Angel Disseminated, bringing death to one and
sparing life to another qI:7.) We see the rea-
son why the lsraelites were instructed to mark
their doors or entrances, TO wit, as signals to
the Angel to spare the frst-born in houses 80
indicated. (V. 49, Chap. IL, VS.. 2 and 3, show
the peoples were mixed.
The first Passover was partaken of mainly in
Goshen, with headquarters at Rameses Hell
opolis) The Hebrew people had become massed
i'll that locality. Under cover of the nine
fearful plaques, causing Egyptians to become so
stunned as not to interpose opposition, the
Israeltes had opportunity to make prepare
tions for leaving the land of their servitude.
God presided over all the particulars Of the
Exodus, so that Moses and Aaron were only the
agents of Heaven. All the details as to the
lamb, the number who could be represented
By one lamb, the kind of lamb, the times
for its selection and Staying, the dispo-
sition OF the blood and also of the flesh,
the method of cooking the edible parts-all
these details are enumerated by Jehovah.
The Offering could be lamb or goat. 1t must
be without blemish, a male, and of the first
year. 1t must be picked from the flock on the
10th day Of Abb, and reserved TO be slain
on the 18th day. 1t was provided it should be
totally eaten. We remember the Israelites had
been shepherds. (Gen., 46: 32.) Everything
was to be done hastily, and hence the roasting,
which would not require so much time
as boiling. Should tho least particle be left
method of applying the blood to doorposts was
by use of bunch of hyssop. We see how
symbolic Of Christ was each lamb. The life
of the innocent was taken in the interest Of
the guilty.
Haste also determined the nature of the
bread. (Vs. "a, 39) There was no time to
have it light by means of leaven. They could
not wait tor it to rise. Hence they used I'M
leavened bread, ". 81 called metSOs Matzo.
This was simply flour and water mixed and
baked at once.
It is probable that the head one of each
group who partook of lamb, was the one who
slew the lamb for his company The MisIuG
says: "a paschal sacrifice may not be offered
for n single individual only. 1t may not be
slaughtered for 100 individuals. If each of them
cannot eat thereof the minimum quantity, TO
wit, the size of an olive"
In celebrations of the Passover after the
first one, viz the one in Egypt, there were some
particulars practiced not mentioned in our lesson
as having been observed. When circumstances
gave chance for deliberate action, there was
opportunity for some additional elaborateness.
But the main features of the first celebration
always characterized the Passover, and still are
maintained.
Bitter herbs CV. 81 were eaten to remind the
people of their bitter servitude in Egypt. 1t is
always we'll to keep in mind former troubles, as
a sort of salad for our present joys
| The idea of haste is kept up, ~. 49, the cir
cumstances demanding perfect readiness. At
| the proper moment the people were to march
out promptly into the wilderness. Apparel
must be girded about the waist, giving free
action to the limbs. The feet must be pro-
tected. A staff would be serviceable, specially
| for the feebler OF more aged. Everything
needed must be at hand. There was no time
for the Virgins to fill and trim lamps when the
| Bridegroom came.
We learn from verse % that the parts Of each
door marked by the blood were the two posts
between which the door hung and the Intel,
| W., Upper doorpost" y which was the hori-
zontal beam just over the door and resting on
| the two posts.
| The time for Staying the lamb was between
3 o'clock and Of the afternoon. (V6) In
future celebrations the Passover was to last
seven days, viz, from the 18th to the 2Ist OF
Abb. Tvs. 15-17.) Having made the seee-
ton Of the particular lamb, great care was
| taken of il from the 10th to the 18th day of the
month. The term keep it up" (V. 81 teaches
this. The blood was received into basins, (V.
22,) and thus borne about; it was sprinkled on
| the doorposts and lintels by means of a sprig OF
hyssop. The 18th and 2lst days were to be
| holy days NowOrk was allowed to be done on
said days. Unleavened bread was to be- eaten
during the entire seven days. Violation of this
law was punished by accommodation. 1t is
/ CNluChb AAOu NCAoCo t1hb Llc IaSSOVer
was to be kind of object teaching to the Jew
/ ish race
Hebrew people all over the world still keep
up the celebration Of the Passover, and that in
| all its items save the sacrifice of lambs The
few SamaritaRs who have survived celebrate
the Passover in all its details, including the
| Staying of lambs. The place of sacrifice is the
summit OF ut. Gerizim. Their custom as to
the blood is to catch it on their fingers as it
| flows from the lamb, and to mark their fore
heads with a red stain. Modern Jews, who grow
lax about some particulars of the Hebrew faith,
are never found careless about a strict Obsery-
ance of the Passover. They remember Gods
threatening of those who sighted this custom.
| ". 49,
| The last Passover proper was that kept by
our Savior and his Apostles on the night before
his crucifxion. Christ then substituted the
Eucharist. Christians hold the Passover is
therefore no longer obligatory, nor indeed fit
| ting
| Suggestions:
/. Yield to God. You must at length. II
nine plaques fail, God will add 10th. Every
knee must yet bow to God-either cheerfully
or perforee. God will not be obliterated set
aside, annihilated. If men will not get out of
the way of Gods providences, he removes the
obstacles. RetributiOn is sure. Wait, and You